The Courtyard Centre for the Arts has just been awarded £499,999 by The Arts Council, one of five organisations in the West Midlands to receive a share of a total Arts Council investment of £1,542,352 in the buildings and equipment arts and cultural organisations need to bring great arts and culture to the West Midlands

Peter Knott, Area Director, Arts Council England, said: “This is fantastic news for the West Midlands. Arts and culture plays a vital role in making the area a great place to live and we’re pleased to be investing in projects which will benefit local people and their communities.

“By equipping arts and cultural venues with the buildings and equipment they need we hope to see our investment support the region’s creative economy to thrive.”

The Courtyard will redesign their front-of-house area, making their box office more accessible for disabled people. They will also add a shop selling locally made arts and crafts, and a new multi-purpose meeting room. The funding will also be used to extend the Café Bar area and first floor dining space to create an outside terrace.

Ian Archer, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of The Courtyard said: “The Courtyard is delighted that, with the support of Arts Council England, we will be now be able to make the much-needed changes required to improve and enhance the facilities at The Courtyard after 20 years.

“The Courtyard is committed to being a fully accessible community venue, so these changes, along with everything else already in place, will make us much more accessible for our disabled patrons. The Courtyard is an essential part of Herefordshire’s growing economy and this investment will help secure the future of The Courtyard as part of Herefordshire’s cultural life.”

The other capital projects receiving Arts Council investment are Compton Verney in Warwickshire, Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and Ikon in Birmingham.